FT WRAP: In the battle of the World Cup disaster outfits England were second best. France showed touch and grace in possession in the first half and probably should have been more than one up at the break, Benzema rounding off a wonderful, short passing move on 15 minutes.

After making changes - notably bringing Gerrard back in to a deeper position in the middle and freeing Jagielka from full back duty - England were more cohesive and able to compete better after the break, but France still carried the greater threat going forward, albeit a more intermittent one.

France were cruising at 2-0 after Valbuena capped a great personal performance with the second shortly after the break. But the enforced substitution of Gerrard for Crouch, the Liverpool captain hobbling off injured, brought hope when the Spurs striker scored a terrific volley in the closing minutes. But it was a false, and thoroughly undeserved, one.

90+5 min: And that's your lot. Too little too late for England. A final flourish gave hope but in truth England were well, well beaten by a better team.

90+4 min: Last chance saloon now for England. A huge punt from Foster ... goes out for a throw virtually on the half way line. Bah! Allez les Blues rings around Wembley.

90+3 min: England peppering the France box with crosses now. Milner tried to loop a side footed volley from outside the box up and over Loris – who was about four yards off his line. Never going to happen.

90+1 min: Great ball from Henderson released Johnson down the right. he had options but elected to cut inside and shoot. His shot was blocked but England come again. Loris comes flying out of his goal, flaps at it, and there is panic at the back for the first time in the France team. Another cross from the left eventually finds Johnson on the right on the touchline. His cross found Bothroyd but slightly behind him and the header was weak. England finishing strongly here.

89 min: The band strike up the national anthem. We do have five minutes more. The crowd like that. A lot.

88 min: There's going to be five minutes of injury time added on here ...

87 min: Can England get something from this game? They don't deserve to, but maybe, just maybe ...

85 min: GOAL!! England 1 France 2 The man who can't stop scoring for England does it again. I'm pretty sure that was Crouch's first touch, and what a touch. A Young corner to the back of the area, Crouch watched it all the way and wrapped his foot round the volley to crash it home through a crowd. Fantastic finish (but then he does have a decent touch for a big man, eh?).

83 min: Bad news for England, but worse for Liverpool, Gerrard is hurt. he's been holding his leg and grimacing as only he can. The physio is called for and his main job is to help Gerrard hobble off. On comes Peter Crouch – to a huge cheer from the crowd.

82 min: But then France go closer. Nasri, who has been quiet in the second half, was given time and space in the right hand channel to drive towards goal. From virtually the corner of the box he unleashed a rasping, rising drive that pinged off Foster's near post.

80 min: And we almost get one. Great work from Johnson on the right, getting to the line and cutting across the six yard box. Loris dived and missed it but no England player could put a foot on it. The ball spilt out to Gerrard who beat the goalkeeper to it but in his haste to get the shot away forced it inches wide.

78 min: The game is petering out a touch now, neither team showing much inclination to force the issue now. You can understand that from the French but a goal for England now could help salvage something.

77 min: England have definitely improved in the second period, but not enough to raise their game up to that of the French. For all England's failings tonight, in part it has been down to France being on their game for large spells.

75 min: Twice in a minute England get close, but not close enough. A spot of pinball around Milner only brought a corner. That was looped to the back of the area where Gerrard controlled the volley expertly to fire it goalwards but hit only his own player. It's small beer but England have been existing on scraps tonight so that felt like a hearty meal of sorts.

73 min: A sniff of a chance for England as Johnson set off at pace behind Abidal. Milner saw him and almost picked the pass before the Frenchman showed a turn of pace himself to recover. Abidal has been excellent tonight, defending and attacking.

71 min: England in trouble against a decent international side. Needing goals. What to do? Call on a player who plays his football in the second division (in old money), that's what. Hmmm. On comes Bothroyd in place of Carroll – who gets a warm reception, more for his effort and willing than a decent performance. Oh, and Gibbs is replaced by Warnock, if that's of any interest.

70 min: Milner twists and turns in the box but the ball just wouldn't drop for him to get a shot away.

69 min: Carroll's first opportunity to head at goal. A cross from deep from Gerrard had no pace on it at all and Carroll had to stretch back to connect which rendered it a weak effort in the end, though it was on target.

67 min: Benzema replaced by Remy, a livewire young talent with big things ahead of him, by all accounts. And the other goalscorer, Valbuena, gets a rest, Diarra on in his place.

66 min: Another free kick in a dangerous area for England tempts Johnson to shoot from 10 yards back from the right hand corner of the box. A long, long way over.

64 min: Young cuts inside – both substitute wingers are doing a lot of that, both being stationed on their 'wrong' side, but it is headed clear. England keep it alive though. This almost amounts to pressure.

62 min: An Abidal foul on Johnson gives England chance to deliver from the right. Carroll the target but it was over cooked. So much so that the France defence stopped, thinking it had gone out, but Gerrard didn't give it up. The ball was rising from the bounce and difficult to get over and his effort back across goal skimmed the top of the crossbar. Closest we've come to an England goal.

60 min: It's all a little flat now. Gerrard tries one of his Hollywood passes from deep midfield but the onrushing Gibbs misjudged it and it bounced over his head. Sums up England's night so far.

59 min: The second goal has restored France's confidence, or arrogance, and they are happy to ping it around the pitch as accurate as they are casual.

57 min: A long way back for England now, just as there were signs of some green shoots of recovery.

55 min: GOAL!! England 0 France 2 Just when England looked to be getting somewhere France strike with deadly precision. A break down the right by Sagna allowed him to cross. Nasri had a fresh air shot but Valbuena was behind him to side foot home. Wonderful goal and England have the stuffing knocked out of them again.

54 min: Nasri shows a fantastic turn of pace to drive right at the heart of the England defence. Made his way in to the box where an errant tackle would have been a nailed on penalty but England eased him out of the way comfortably in the end.

52 min: France's turn to give away possession in the middle. M'vila the guilty man, allowing Gerrard to feed Milner who showed great awareness to then help it back in to the marauding Gerrard's path. He tried to cut inside but had the ball picked off his toes. Promising move.

50 min: Decent corner from Malouda picked out Rami but it was just behind him and all he could do was help it on for a goal kick.

49 min: A break in play while Gourcuff gets some attention. A smart move getting Jagielka out of a full back role. Not his natural position and it showed.

48 min: Henderson goes in hard on Gourcuff for a ball that wasn't there to be won and is duly booked.

46 min: All change for England. On comes Richards for Ferdinand, with Jagielka moving to centre back. Johnson on for Walcott and Young for Barry. Gerrard and Henderson take the holding midfield roles with Milner forward to support Carroll. Richards shows early endeavour, getting to the byline and crossing. Not well, but that's more than Jagielka managed in 45 minutes.

HT: England 0 France 1

HT WRAP: For 20 minutes there it looked like France could pick the score they were going to win by. Possession, possession and more possession, it looked like Arsenal in full flight. Nasri and Sagna have both been excellent, which explains that a little, with Malouda and Benzema both carrying a goal threat every time they have the ball. They've taken their foot off the gas a touch towards the end but England have still failed to muster any sort of response.

Carroll has won knock downs but with Milner and Walcott too wide there is only Gerrard with him. England being bossed by a team that has greater regard for possession than they do – where have we heard that before? It's a surprise France only have Benzema's excellent goal to show for their dominance.

HT Tweets: @alexwongIf – the Rooney-for Benzema rumours were true, it looks like Man Utd should have taken it. @QuantumSpace – What does Capello have to do to get his severance? Hes tried so hard! So many out of position at this level? Almost amateur

45 min: Bang on the 45 the whistle sounds to give England a little time to breath and regroup. A nice encouraging chorus of boos for the players to walk off too, that'll probably help, eh?

43 min: Sounded like the crowd were digging in to support, or barrack, the team. But it's a Mexican wave. England are taking a beating but the game isn't that bad.

42 min: Benzema looks well up for this, and well capable of creating every time he's on the ball. Running at pace he drew the challenge on the corner of the box before feeding the overlapping Abidal whose cut back was blocked. France have lost a bit of their brio here but still carry the greater goal threat every time they have the ball.

41 min: Milner hits the byline to find an improbable cross but as soon as it broke down France looked set to launch a swift counter until Gibbs put in a fine tackle to break it up.

39 min: Confident running from Carroll to skip past a couple of challenges in the middle and head for goal. Just ran away from him when Walcott had got up to support. He's not getting great service so far, but Carroll still looks the most likely route back in to this match for England.

37 min: England's best spell of a pretty wretched half. Notable that Gibbs and Jagielka both got forward in the move and so possession could be recycled and moved across the pitch. Ends when Gerrard was crowded out by the right corner flag but better. A bit better.

36 min: England can't put three passes together. In their eagerness to get Walcott off and running they are too predictable. Walcott skinned Abidal and hit the rocket boots but Mexes was alive to it and covered to stop him. Looked like a handball as it goes but nothing given.

34 min: France look the more inventive and lively around their opponent's box that England do every time. Nasri and Malouda combine to see Malouda hit the byline. He was well watched but still got a low, fizzing cross across the six yard box. No one to meet it and Foster down well but the ease with which France can pick through England's overworked backline is a real worry.

33 min: Sloppy from Gibbs who won the ball then tried – and failed – to run it out through a crowd. Had Nasri's through ball been quicker and better England were in more trouble there.

31 min: France allowing England's centre backs all the time in the world with the ball then snapping at the midfielder's heels. Puts pressure on Lescott and Ferdinand to distribute well. A mixed bag so far but both have been overworked in the tackle and performed pretty well so far. Though they've had to.

29 min: England's second shot at goal. Free kick chipped up to the head of Carroll – you spotting a theme here – and his nod down found Gerrard on the penalty spot. under pressure and falling backwards his slashed it over the bar like a rugby conversion.

28 min: After that brief bright spot England almost go two down. Well, might have done Benzema not spooned it wide from the left side of the box when he had options in the middle.

26 min: First shot at goal from England. Lescott chipped it forward to Carroll who flicked on to Milner. Walcott was screaming for it at the far post but it was worth an effort from Milner after he cut back inside on the edge of the box. loris had it all the way. But it's a start.

25 min: England have the ball in the French box! Milner had no one to hit after Carroll was forced deep to forage for the ball, and so tried to kick and rush past Sagna. Never going to happen.

23 min: Only one team playing football here. And it isn't England. You need the ball to do that. Something England are having in 10 second bursts and no more.

22 min: England enjoying respite, though the ball is with England's centre backs. The crowd get on their back at the slow pace, prompting Lescott to launch one 50 yards ... to a French player. The whistling continues....sigh.

20 min: France string together something like 1,089 passes together but Carroll nicks in to steal in very, very deep. Gerrard was furthers forward on the break. He tried to release the flying Walcott but the difficult threaded pass was cut out. The best England move for 10 minutes, which isn't saying much.

18 min: Malouda heads straight down the middle, twisting Ferdinand this way and that. Credit to Ferdinand for being able to block the eventual shot despite being as busy as someone fresh off a waltzer.

17 min: England looking a little ragged now, France very, very assured on the ball. The game's being played in England's half.

15 min: GOAL!! England 0 France 1 You can't say that wasn't coming. England retreating to their own 18-yard line. France in possession. A neat one-two between Benzema and Malouda puts the Real Madrid reserve in with a nice angle to fire between Foster and post. Good goal. England in trouble.

13 min: Promising England attack, with Carroll feeding Milner, who almost exchanged a neat one-two with Walcott, broke down and instantly England were on the back foot. A flat atmosphere here, not because of the cold and the rain but England being second best to a decent looking French side.

12 min: Malouda spins Ferdinand on the corner of the England box and, with no cover, gets a shot away that goes mercifully wide. Then Sagna gets round the back, his cut back cut out by Lescott, only to be returned in the form of a decent shot from distance from Gourcuff that Foster does well to parry behind. Danger signs for England here. In garish Neon of blue, white and red.

10 min: France have settled the better here, enjoying more meaningful possession and playing slow, slow then quick on a lightening quick pitch.

08 min: Malouda given more space than his form this season should merit. The Chelsea man got a shot away that Foster was well behind but the damp on pitch and ball saw it squirm out of his grasp, only to be collected at the second attempt. Hearts in mouth moment for the England goalkeeper.

07 min: Carroll's first proper feel of the ball and, even deep in midfield, the crowded bristles with anticipation. He combined well with Walcott before crossing for Gerrard whose attempted flick on almost picked out Milner but didn't.

06 min: First corner of the game goes France's way as Barry deflects a deep cross behind. Malouda whips is in and only finds Barry on the front post. Break on for England but a fantastic tackle by Sagna on Milner ends all that.

04 min: Considered one and two touch football from France through the defence and midfield. Nothing from it yet but they are obviously intent on building possession and taking the early pace out of the game. There'll be no hurrying here.

02 min: France fanny about with the ball in their left back position, allowing Gerrard to nip in and buy a dubious free kick with that falling kicked out leg of his. The delivery is poor and nothing comes of it.

01 min: Carroll involved early, winning a free kick deep in France territory after being shoved. A bit far out but Gerrard might fancy it. He does, and it fizzes under a wall barely worth the description, but Loris is behind it and saves comfortably.

19.55: National anthem time. In the post Domenech era, apparently, the French players have to sing their hearts out or face censure. The words may be lost on most of the crowd but it's still one of the best tunes you get to hear at this stage of proceedings.

19.50: As the rain comes down and no England manager for the rest of time is going to think about pulling out a brolly, Capello is wearing an England branded baseball cap, with all the natural comfort of a 64-year-old man away from a golf course.

19.40: It's a full house on a miserable night in North London. Gareth Southgate has jumped on a moral high horse and is riding it around the ITV studios with the élan of Tony McCoy approaching an ankle high fence. Carroll shouldn't be in the team, "we are rewarding him for bad behaviour," he insists, though recognises the Newcastle forward's talents on the pitch.

19.30: Argentina have beaten Brazil in a money spinning friendly in Qatar. And, if you get the chance, I suggest you take a look at Lionel Messi's winner. A bit special.

Yes, Carroll does start, with Steven Gerrard as the man nearest to him in a midfield anchored by the youthful Jordan Henderson and the last minute closer for matches against Birmingham City, Gareth Barry. Capello gives with one hand then takes away with the other, eh?

19.10: “The English players have the same level of technical ability as the French,” said Fabio Capello in his pre-match press conference. Once that might have been the compliment it was intended to be.

But not these days. Though Italy did their best, or worst, to get involved, pretty much everything that was rotten and stinking at last summer’s World Cup could be blamed on the two teams that meet tonight.

Raymond Domenech’s squad turned out to be the first set of Frenchmen in history who became less popular in their own country due to going on strike. England’s golden generation returned home worth little more than scrap in the eyes of their supporters, who turned out in numbers for their first match back on home soil only to get close enough so the underperforming wastrels could hear the boos.

It’s all changed now though. Well, it’s changed a bit. Gone are the knockabout madcap stylings of Domenech, replaced by the altogether more solid and dependable Laurent Blanc. The team he has to pick from, though, is altered in the fall out of what would have been called Anelka-gate, had it happened in an English speaking country.

Nicolas Anelka is banned for so long he is effectively retired, Patrice Evra is still unavailable after copping a lengthy ban himself for playing the Gary Neville shop steward role, while Franck Ribery is injured, possible banned and more than likely up to no good in a gentleman’s club or whatnot tonight anyway.

For England, the changes are also in part forced, in part a reaction to what they did last summer. Wayne Rooney is away in Disneyland playing on Mickey’s Wild Ride and all of his regular substandard substitutes are afflicted by various ailments, in Kevin Davies' case no longer being considered better than a Championship player by the man who gave him his first cap a couple of weeks ago.

So in steps Andy Carroll, the man of the moment, both in footballing circles and the judiciary of Gateshead Magistrates Court. A classic No 9 in fine form for Newcastle, he deserves his chance and will start, his own injury concerns notwithstanding. Also taking a bow will be Jordan Henderson, the polar opposite of Carroll in terms of off-field behaviour, and Kieran Gibbs, a facsimile of Ashley Cole, except not nearly as annoying.

It’s a brave new world for both teams. Or, just as likely, plus ça change (plus c’est la même chose).